Automatic light-signal apparatus.



. I G. DALEN. AUTOMATIC LIGHT SIGNAL APPARATUS.

v APPLICATION r1110 MAY12,1911. 1,179,079. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

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v I TR THE COLU|\\B 1A FLANuGnAPl-l 410., WASHINGTON. D. c. t

G. DALEN.

AUTOMATIC LIGHT SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY I2, 19H.

1 ,179,079, Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

I I Q 2 $HEET$-SHEET 2- IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY WITNgssg-sv :3,"

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF DALEN, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN GASACCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC LIGHT-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Application filed May 12, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAF DALEN, asubject of the King of Sweden, residing in Stockholm. Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Light-Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic light signal apparatus of the character in which flashes of light are thrown out at repeated intervals of time and it has for its object to provide such an apparatus with means for shading and 0bstructing one or more flashes in series which may be thrown out by such apparatus.

In the carrying out of my invention I combine ablind apparatus of known construction, such as the von Otter type, in which the light signaling apparatus operates to open and close the blinds at predetermined intervals and for predetermined periods. I '3 Other objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth or will be .apparent from the detailed description of my invention.

Convenient forms of embodiment of .my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings but it will be understood that changes in the details of construction within the scope of the claims may be. made without departing therefrom.

In order that my invention may be fully comprehended and more readily understood, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which,-

"igure 1 is a side elevation of a light signal apparatus provided withmy invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereofwith certain parts shown in section; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified construction of apparatus provided with my invention.

Referring to the drawings :1 designates the casing of a light signal apparatus, 2 the diaphragm forclosing the same, and 3 a pipe leading from the casingto the burner 4. These parts are of well known construction and therefore are not illustrated more in detail and need not be further described.

6 designates a link connected at its lower end to the diaphragm 2 and at its upper end to the lever 7 pivoted at its outer end at 8 Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 626,764.

to an upright post or standard 9 rising fr0m the caslng 1 or from any other suitable support.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the inner end ner. The. shaft 13 also supports or carries a cam disk 16 provided with. a cam g'roo've 17 in which a" roller 20 .on the lower end of the lever 21 works. The lever 21 ispivoted at 22, intermediate its ends, to a bracket 23 extended upwardly from one of the bearings 14 in which the shaft 13 is journaled. It will be understood, of course, that the lever 21 maybe supported in any other manner which maybe desired and found to be practicable and suitable. The upper" end of the lever 21 is connected to one end of a link 25 the opposite end of'which is con nected to a bar or member 26 which inturn is connected by means of lever arms 27 to each of the blinds or slats 28 constituting a sector 29 of the blind apparatus. Movement of the bar or member 26 longitudinally in opposite directions causes the opening and closing of the blinds or slats 28.

In Fig.3 I have shown a modified construction in which the shaft 30 is ournaled in brackets 31 and is provided with a disk 32 having pins 33 which extend radially therefrom and which'cooperate with pins 34 located above and below the said disk uponabar 35 the upperend of which is secured to the inner endof thepivoted lever 7 and the lower end of which projects through the base upon which the brackets Patented Apr. 11,1916.

31 are mounted, whereby the said barvis prea weight 36 supported upon a band or cord 37 which is coiled around and connected to the shaft. Other equivalent means may be used for causing rotation of the shaft. It will be understood that by raising and lowering the bar the disk 32 is permitted to revolve with a step by step movement. 39 designates a cam groove upon the cam disk 40 in which groove the roller 41 at the lower end of the lever l2 cooperates. The lever 4:2 is pivoted at 43 to the upper inner end of the bracket le which extends upwardly from a stationary portion of the apparatus as for instance, one of the supports 31 for the shaft 30. Ihe upper end of the lever 42 is connected to a link l5 which in turn is connected to a bar 46 connected to lever arms 47 which are connected to the blinds 48 which constitute asector 49 of the blind" the burner l: of the apparatus.

It is also to be understood that the length of the shafts 13 or 81 may be varied and that the number of cam disks 16 or 4-0 should be increased to correspond to the number of sectors and it will also be understood that the shape of the cam grooves upon the respective disks may be varied so as to control and vary the periods during which the blinds are held in opened or closed position. Also the cams may be de-.

signed so as to open the blinds during a dark period between the flashes of the light.

In practical operation the blinds of different sectors should be opened for different periods and consequently of course closed for different periods. These periods are controlled by the design of the cams upon I the cam disks of the apparatus.

Assuming that the light of the burner is flashing continuously and at regular intervals and that there are two sectors separated a distance from each other and provided with blinds of the character above described and that there is a separate cam for the operation of the blinds of each sect-or, it will be understood that if the design or contour of the cams varies the operation of the blinds in the different sectors will be varied.

Ihe cams may be designed so that the blinds in one of the sectors, will permit two flash signals to show, while in the other sec tor the blinds may be so operated by the cam which is connected thereto as to permit three flash signals to show. The continuous one flash signals may indicate clear water, the two flash signals which are visible between the two sectors may indicate port sheer, and the three flash signals may indicate star board sheer. By this means the navigator may direct his course with accuracy and safety.

Although as illustrated, my invention is embodied in a construction in which certain movable parts thereof are operated from the vibrating diaphragm of the light flashing apparatus, it is to be understood that my said invention is not limited to such construction and that the said'parts may be operated from and by means of any other suitable movable part of the light flashing apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an automatic light signal apparatus. the combination of a light-flashing device for producing light flashes with means under the control of said device for determin ing the character of signals displayed by said light flashes.-

2. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device, a burner, blinds arranged in sectors surrounding the said burner, and means interposed between the said light "flashing device and the said blinds for actuating the latter, the operation of the said means being controlled by the said light flashin device.

3. In an automatic light signal apparatus. the combination of a light flashing device h.ving a movable diaphragm, a pivoted lever having connection with the said diaphragm, blinds adapted to be opened and closed, and means actuated by the pivotal movement of the said lever for controlling and causing the opening and closing movement of the said blinds.

4. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device having a movable member, a lever pivoted at one end and having connection intermediate its ends with the said movable member, blinds adapted to be opened and closed at intervals, mechanism interposed between the said blinds and the said light flashing apparatus for actuating the said blinds, the said mechanism comprising a ratchet, and a pawl connected to the said lever and engaging the said ratchet for actuating the same, whereby the said mechanism is caused to actuate the said blinds.

5. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device having a movable member and blinds adapted to be opened and closed with mechanism for actuating the said blinds, the said mechanism comprising a pivoted lever, means for connecting the said lever to the said movable member, the said lever being provided with a pawl at its inner end, a shaft, a cam disk and a ratchet wheel on the said shaft, the said ratchet wheel being engaged by the said pawl, whereby movements of the said lever caused by the said movable member cause rotation of the said shaft and cam disk, a pivoted lever having one end in engagement with the cam on said cam disk and having its opposite end connected to the said blinds, whereby actuation of the said cam disk causes actuation of' the said blinds.

6. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device having a movable member which device is adapted to cause light flashes at intervals, blinds adapted to be opened and closed to permit the said flashes to be seen or to shut them from view, and means interposed between the said light flashing device and the said blinds and controlled by the said movable member, whereby the blinds are turned during the intervals between the flash signals.

7. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a. light flashing device, a cam, means interposed between said light flashing device and said cam for actuating the latter, and means actuated by the said cam for obstructing or permitting the passage of light rays from the light flashes of said light flashing device.

8. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device including a burner, a-cam, means actuated by a movable part of the said light flashing device for causing movement of the said cam and means associated with the said burner for permitting or preventing the passage of light rays from said burner, the said means being actuated by'the said cam.

9. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device including a burner, a cam, means actuated by a movable part of the'said light flashing device for controlling the movements of .means and thereby controlling the passage of the light rays from said burner.

10. In an automatic light signal apparatus, the combination of a light flashing device, including a movable member for controlling the flashing of the light, means for determining the character of signals displayed by the light flashes, and mechanism interposed between said means and said movable member whereby movements ofthe latter actuate the means for determining the character of the light signals.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 22nd day of April, A. D. 1911.

GUSTAF DALEN.

In the presence of 1 WALDEuAR BOMAN, T. EKsBoHM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

